Egypt won the Gold Award for culture and heritage at the 25th annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards on 4 November, voted by readers of the British magazine, as the country courts record tourism.
Ahmed Yousry, chief executive of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board, accepted the prize at the Painted Hall in Greenwich. About 500 travel executives attended the ceremony.
More than 250,000 readers cast a record 8.2 million votes, according to Wanderlust. The magazine said the Grand Egyptian Museum newly showcased Egypt’s ancient treasures. Costa Rica was named the most desirable country outside Europe, and Spain took the European title.
Prince Harry gave the keynote address on 4 November, telling the audience the industry has both a duty and a business reason to protect the places it relies on. He also announced that Wanderlust had joined the affiliate network of Travalyst, the sustainable travel group he founded in 2019.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minister, said the award reflects the country’s heritage, its museums and ongoing restoration work meant to preserve sites for future generations. Yousry said it would support campaigns aimed at first-time and returning visitors.
The recognition arrives during a strong stretch for Egyptian tourism. The country drew a record 19 million visitors in 2025, and 14.4 million arrived in the first nine months of 2026, up 4 percent from a year earlier. The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened in November 2025, has drawn more than 6.5 million visitors.
Officials say they are now focused on getting travelers to stay longer and spend more, while keeping a goal of 30 million annual visitors by 2030.
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